Flushing mechanism of tanks for water closets



Junezl, 1938. MEACH 2,121,241

FLUSHING MECHANISM OF TANKS FOR WATER CLQSETS Filed June 20, 1936 Patented June u21, 1938 ru'r orifice N 'FLUSHING MECHANISM OF TANKS FOR WATER CLOSETS I Ernest A. Bach, St. Louis, Mo., assigner of onehalf to George Wood, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 20, 1936, Serial No. 86,330

5 Claims.

This invention relates to the flushing mechanisms for the tanks of water closets and the like, wherein the primary purpose of the invention is to provide the mechanism and/or the tank or 5" chest with cooperable means for draining the tank of its content when the water pressure to the mechanisms is cut off in order to eliminate the hazard of freezing and consequent destruc- "tion of the tank.

l Another purpose or object of the invention is to provide the water pressure stand-pipe of the flushing mechanism with a drain duct which is automatically closed while water pressure isr maintained in the stand-pipe and which is autol matically opened for draining communication with the tank when the water `pressure `to the stand-pipe is cut off.

Other and further. objects will appear in the specification and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, refer-ence being had to the accompanying drawing, exemplifying the invention, and in which:-

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical section taken through a portion of a flushing tank and certain of the mechanism to which the invention is applicable and is shown.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. TY Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, 3 designates a tank or chest for containing a body of water to be used for flushing purposes through the discharge outlet 4 which may lead to a water closet or other device to be flushed when the valve 5 is lifted from its seat 6 by any well known operating means (not shown).

The discharge outlet 4 is connected to the bushing 'I by a gland nut 8, said bushing being secured in a seal tight manner in an opening 9 formed in the bottom I0 of the tank 3, the upper end of the bushing 'I having the seat 6 formed thereon for cooperation with the valve 5.

Water is obtained in the tank 3 through the stand-pipe I I which is vertically mounted in the tank and has its lower threaded end I2 extended through an opening I3 formed in the bottom I0 of the tank to which a water supply pipe I4 is connected by the gland nut I5.

The stand-pipe I I is provided with a vertically disposed passageway I6 and a plunger chamber I1 in which a plunger I8 is mounted, said plunger at its lower end carrying a seating disc I9 for closing engagement with an annular seat 20 which is formed in the stand-pipe at the upper end of the passageway I6. The plunger I8 is alsoprovided with a vertically disposed aperture 2I, and for cooperation with the top and bottom surfaces of said aperture, are cam surfaces 22 and 23 respectively, of an actuating lever 24, 5" said lever `at one end being swingably mounted on `the pivot 25 which is mounted in opposing ears 26 which extend from and form a part of the stand-pipe II.

Extending from the stand-pipe I.I is a spout 10" 21 having a downwardly extending end 28, the passageway of said spout being in communication with the plunger chamber I'I, and secured to the downwardly extending end 28 of said spout is a discharge pipe 29 for the discharge of water from 15" the stand-pipe into the tank 3.

Formed integral with the spout 21 is a support 30 and pivoted yat 3| to said support is a lever 32 having one end pivotally connected at 33 to a link or pair of links 34, the opposite end 20 of said link being pivoted at 35 to the lever 24 ofthe plunger I8. The opposite end of the lever 321s adjustably secured by the thumb bolt 36 to the connecting end 3'! of a float rod 38, said float rod at its opposite end having a float ball 25 39 secured thereto.

The afore detailed description` may be of any well known structure and/or mechanism applicable to flushing tanks and the like for providing water entrainment to the tank for flushing pur- 30 pses, and wherein after each discharge of the body of water from the tank, an automatic refilling of water in the tank occurs. However, in flushing devices of this character, it quite frequently happens that by reason of buildings and the like being vacant and unheated during the winter months, the standing water in the flushing tanks upon freezing, causes breakage of the tanks particularly on account of the tanks being made of earthenware or porcelain material. 40 While it is customary to shut oli" the source of water supply at the meter wherein the water will drain from the piping of the building, the water content however, of the flush tanks still remains in the tank because of being entrapped therein by reason of the valve 5 closing the only source of discharge of the water from the tank.

Applicants invention therefore is for the purpose of providing a draining feature in cooperation with the stand-pipe of ushing apparatuses 50 so that when the water supply is cut off, an automatic draining of the tank will be a consequence or result. In this connection, the stand-pipe II at a point adjacent and above the bottom I0 of the tank 3 is provided with a right-angular 55 threaded extension 40 to which a housing 4I containing a check valve 42 is threadingly secured, the housing 4l having an opening 43 formed in its end wall 44 and the opening on its inner end having a seat 45 for cooperation with the check valve or ball check 42, and the housing 4| also having a bushing 46 therein which is adjustably secured in the interior threads 41 of the housing and said bushing having a recessed seat 48 for cooperation with the ball check 42.

In the operation of the iiushing apparatus with the check valve housing 4I secured to the extension 40, water pressure in the passageway I6 of the stand-pipe Il will be effective on the check valve 42 through the passageway 49 of the extension 40, to force and hold said check valve against its seat 45, thereby closing the opening 43, and consequently the flushing apparatus will continue to operate and function in the usual manner for ushing purposes. In the event however, water pressure is cut 01T at the source and water from the stand-pipe is drained, the body of water in the tank 3 will become active on the check valve 42 to force it from its seat 45 and against the recessed seat 48, and the water will be entrained from the tank through the aperture 43 past the check valve 42 and through the recessed seat 48 and bushing 46 and into the passageway 49 to the passageway l of the stand-pipe, thus eliminating the hazard of freezing.

Upon establishing water pressure in the standpipe, it is obvious that such pressure will operate to maintain the check valve 42 against its seat 45, thus closing the opening 43 of the housing 4|.

- From the disclosure of this invention it is obvious therefore, that a useful purpose is served in its application to the flushing mechanisms of tanks and the like whereby an automatic drain of the tanks is brought about when the water supply in the piping system of a building is shut off.

Having thus described the invention so that those skilled in the art will be able to practice the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is dened in what is claimed, it being understood that various changes in the device shown and described in detail and not amounting to invention, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A flushing tank having a stand-pipe therein,

means for entraining water pressure to said standpipe, controllable discharge means cooperable with said stand-pipe for discharging water into said tank, and a valve controlled discharge passageway at the lower end of the stand-pipe cooperable to drain water from the tank and into the stand-pipe when the water pressure to said standpipe is shut off.

2. A iiushing tank having a stand-pipe therein,

l means for entraining water pressure to said standpipe, controllable discharge means cooperable with said stand-pipe for discharging water into said tank, and a valve controlled discharge passageway separable from said controllable discharge means and being cooperable to drain water from the tank into said stand-pipe when the water pressure to said stand-pipe is shut off.

3. A flushing tank having a stand-pipe through Which Water is entrained to the tank, and a valve controlled passageway disposed at an angle from said stand-pipe adjacent the bottom thereof for draining water from the tank into said standpipe when the stand-pipe is drained.

4. A flushing tank having a stand-pipe extending upwardly through the bottom thereof and adapted to entrain water into said tank, an angular extension projecting from said stand-pipe adjacent and above the bottom of said tank and having a passageway therein in communication with said stand-pipe, a valve housing secured to said extension and having an inlet opening at its extending end, and a check valve in said housing operable to close said inlet opening when water pressure is maintained in said stand-pipe.

5. A flushing tank having a stand-pipe extending upwardly through the bottom thereof and adapted to entrain water into said tank, an angular extension projecting from said stand-pipe adjacent and above the bottom of said tank and having a passageway therein in communication with said stand-pipe, a valve housing secured to said extension and having an inlet opening at its extending end, and a check valve in said housing operable to close said inlet opening when water pressure is maintained in said stand-pipe, said check valve being operable to provide communication between said opening and the passageway of said extension when the stand-pipe is drained.

ERNEST A. BACH. 

